Supercharge Your Skin With This Breakthrough Combo: Hyaluronic Acid + Marula Oil

Bring out healthy, sexy skin in just two days

Hyaluronic acid and marula oil are the hottest actives in modern skincare. If used independently, each ingredient can give your skin nourishment. Put them together, and their benefits complement each other to bring out your best skin that will make you feel sexy from within!

 

Hyaluronic Acid, or Hyaluronan, is naturally produced by the body and is mostly found in the skin. Its main function is to retain water in your skin layers—when kept at optimal levels, it helps retain moisture and suppleness in the skin, speeds up healing, and has anti-bacterial properties.

 

On the other hand, Marula Oil is a newcomer in the beauty oil market and is native to South Africa. It contains antioxidants, amino and fatty acids that have anti-aging, anti-UV, and anti-dryness benefits, which makes it perfect for those living in tropical countries like the Philippines.

While either ingredient can work effectively from one another, you can still enjoy both and get their benefits through the NEW Avon Skin So Soft Supercharged Multivitamin Hand & Body Lotion with SPF 6 that also nourishes your skin with essential vitamins up to 10 layers deep!

 

MultiVitamin Charged Complex provides essential building blocks like Vitamins A, B3, B5, C, and E—all of which help maintain intense nourishment and protection for your skin.

 

To ensure these sexifying vitamins and ingredients stay with you, Deep Absorb Technology helps penetrate through the skin’s 10 layers for deep hydration and nourishment to bring out that healthy and sexy skin from within.

 

Finally, through HydroBoost Technology, every application of Avon Skin So Soft Supercharged Multivitamin Hand & Body Lotion with SPF 6 ensures a healthy dose of Hyaluronic Acid and Marula Oil that instantly locks in and boosts moisture.

 

“Avon believes that everyone deserves to feel good in their own skin and that can start by having a healthy one,” shares Dione Cotoco, Avon Philippines’ Head of Beauty. “That is why we are bringing together all these high-performing ingredients, essential multivitamins, and exclusive technologies that will help you get the ultimate skin softness and radiance.”

 

The NEW Avon Skin So Soft Supercharged Multivitamin Hand & Body Lotion with SPF 6 is dermatologically tested, provides 48-hour moisturization, is suitable for everyday use, and is available in 250mL size.

Shop through an Avon representative or online via avonshop.ph. Like and check out Avon Philippines on Facebook to know more about your favorite Avon products!

Xiaomi Reaffirms Commitment to Data Security and Privacy

 

 

Xiaomi, the world's leading consumer electronics and smart manufacturing company, recommitted itself to protecting customer data during its annual Security and Privacy Awareness Month completed today. It held employee training events and expert seminars at the Xiaomi Technology Park in Beijing, China and at Xiaomi's Technology Operation Center in Singapore.

This was the third consecutive year that it held special classes for its engineers and other employees and led discussions with industry executives, IT security experts, and the public about the importance of data security and user privacy protection. Xiaomi also released updated white papers on security and privacy along with its annual transparency report detailing its data security activities.

The purpose of the month-long series of events was to bolster its user security and privacy protection practices and to build trust in Xiaomi’s products through transparency and accountability. 

Xiaomi has built a comprehensive governance structure to protect data security and user privacy. This involves cooperation between cybersecurity experts, smartphone operating system engineers, lawyers, and legal compliance experts. Overseeing these specialists is a Security and Privacy Committee led by senior executives. 

 Cui Baoqiu, Xiaomi Vice President and Chairman of the Xiaomi Security and Privacy Committee, called data security and user privacy protection a key to the long-term, sustainable development of the company's global business. "Protecting the data security and privacy of our users is the top priority,” he said. “Our customers care about this issue more than any other. Xiaomi is committed to offering safe and reliable Android smartphones and IoT products."

Eugene Liderman, Director of Android Security Strategy of Google, highlighted Xiaomi's contribution to the Android system. "One of Android's biggest strengths is the diverse ecosystem of partners. Xiaomi is a great example of this and it's great to see their continued investment in cyber security hygiene across their product portfolio", he added.

Professor Liu Yang, School of Computer Science and Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, said, "As the security challenge is becoming the focus of many technology discussions, industry stakeholders attach more importance to the urgency of managing vulnerabilities at hardware, software and even in the massive open-source space. Xiaomi has made tremendous effort to address the issue, safeguarding users with technology expertise, and continuously exploring new methods for better data protection."

With the world's largest consumer IoT platform, Xiaomi is constantly working to improve IoT security and privacy protections. Xiaomi held its fifth annual IoT security summit on June 29 and 30 in Beijing. Industry executives and experts discussed a wide range of issues from data security governance frameworks and cross-border data transfers to the security of internet-connected electric vehicles and solutions for software supply chain security threats.

During the June event, Xiaomi announced that its Electric Scooter 4 Pro obtained IoT Security Rating Gold level certification from Underwriter Laboratories Inc, an international safety research institute based in the U.S. This designation made Electric Scooter 4 Pro the world's first electric scooter with such a high-level safety rating. The certificate also indicated that the security baseline of Xiaomi's IoT product development is in line with international standards.

Xiaomi created its Security and Privacy Committee in 2014. In 2016, Xiaomi became the first Chinese company to receive certification from TrustArc. Xiaomi adopted the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) of European Union compliance assessment in 2018. In 2019, Xiaomi security and privacy practices were certificated on ISO/IEC 27001, ISO/IEC 27018. Last year, Xiaomi published its first transparency report, making it the first Android smartphone brand to do so. Xiaomi this year obtained the certificate of registration of NIST CSF (National Institute of Standards and Technology, Cybersecurity Framework), further strengthening its data security protection capabilities.

For the white papers and reports mentioned above, please use the Xiaomi Trust Center at https://trust.mi.com/

 

Four Well-balanced Recipes For Kids This Nutrition Month

 

Ajinomoto shares Mag-Pinggang Pinoy® Tayo! recipes for healthy and resilient kids amid the new normal

There has been a change in people’s lifestyle and diet during this pandemic.  Homemakers continue to face the challenge of preparing nutritious and delicious meals.  At the onset, quarantine restrictions affected income, mobility and access to healthy ingredients.  Then, comes the challenge of time limitation balancing work from home and online schooling hence increase in reliance on food deliveries.  With these, the health and nutrition of children are compromised.

July is National Nutrition Month.  For this  year’s theme New Normal na Nutrisyon, Sama-Samang Gawan ng Solusyon! Ajinomoto Philippines Corporation (APC) Group shares four well-balanced recipes that Filipino homecooks can try to improve their kids’ health, growth, and development in these evolving times. 

“This celebration is timely to remind Filipino parents to look out for their children’s health and nutritional needs. Especially these days, diet is an important factor in maintaining our overall well-being and preventing diseases,” said APC Group Science Communication Executive Deborah S. Fajarda RND.

In support of the day-to-day meal preparation challenge for homecooks, below are easy to prepare, affordable, delicious and nutritious recipes that will help Filipino kids become more resilient in the new normal. These recipes are part of APC’s Mag-Pinggang Pinoy® Tayo! (MPPT) program that promotes the practice of preparing and serving delicious balanced meals with the right amount of Go, Grow, and Glow food. Listed below are 4 out of 60 recipes you can serve for the enjoyment and proper nourishment of your growing kids. 

Egg Fried Rice with Veggies

This is perfect for the kid’s lunch box or baon as some schools start to conduct face-to-face classes. Carrot, corn, and green peas make this rich in potassium which is important in maintaining the water balance in the body. A plate of melon and a glass of milk are best to complete this meal. See full recipe here.

Stir-fried Chicken with Mixed Vegetables 

A balanced, varied, and moderate amount of Go, Grow, and Glow food in every meal is key to achieving optimal nutrition. Kids will enjoy this stir-fried chicken with veggies that are made tastier with SARSAYA® Liquid Seasoning. Best served with 1 banana to make it healthier. Bonus tip: in stir-frying, add the firm vegetables first before the green leafy vegetables. Learn the recipe here.

Fried Fish in Fried Rice

Kids need to have Grow foods in their meals for them to have a healthier body. Tilapia is rich in Selenium, a mineral that helps prevent sickness and infection. Fish is not the most popular food among kids, but this recipe may just change that and make their bodies resilient against illnesses. To make this recipe more appealing to your kids, use CRISPY FRY® Fish Breading Mix and AJI-SHIO® Garlic Seasoning Mix. Check out full recipe here

Chicken Almondigas 

The main ingredient of this recipe is chicken, a rich source of protein that functions to help form and repair muscles in the body. Season your Chicken Almondigas with Ajinomoto Chicken Powder Mix for that added flavor. You may use milk instead of egg to help bind the chicken meatballs. Learn the recipe here.

Check out all 60 Mag-Pinggang Pinoy® Tayo! recipes from APC Group’s Recipe Site cookmunitybyajinomoto.com. These recipes were created for Mag-Pinggang Pinoy® Tayo! Intervention Study. The APC Group and other MPPT advocates are determined to combat malnutrition especially amid the ongoing pandemic where food systems have been disrupted and have continued to affect vulnerable groups like children. The MPPT program consists of online capacity building of community health workers, online nutrition education of homemakers, and one-meal dietary supplementation among identified undernourished children.

“New normal nutrition is a call for homemakers to be more consistent and creative in making healthy food more enjoyable for your family. Support your child’s health, growth, and development by making delicious and nutritious meals that they will love.” said Fajarda.

For more information about the MPPT program and other recipes, visit ajinomoto.com.ph.

Professional Team Post-Pandemic Learnings and How They Apply to Weekend Warriors

 

A sports team’s coaching staff, trainers, dietitians, strength coaches, and sports scientists are experts that athletes rely on to ensure optimal performance. Their understanding of each athlete’s needs builds genuine relationships, fitness programs, and nutrition regimens for each athlete leading to better individual support. So, it’s no surprise that they become a fundamental part of players’ success. 

When COVID hit, professional athletes, coaches, and support staff were challenged to maintain this level of engagement. Athletes feared their performance might decrease, while sports performance coaches had to stay accessible even during these uncertain times. 

Similarly, people who aren’t professional athletes often have someone in their lives who they turn to for advice or accountability, whether it’s a nutrition coach or a trainer at the gym. They too had to learn to adjust to a new level of engagement.

Below we’ve shared sports performance practices that the LA Galaxy has learned over the past two years that can be applied to most weekend warriors who are returning to or even adopting healthy lifestyles post-pandemic.  

Combine Tech and Training to Stay Connected

The pandemic challenged connections with players and how we were able to access them. We adjusted our approach to ensure we stayed connected and could keep the athletes on track with their personalized nutrition and physical training plans, motivated to continue achieving their daily training targets and short-term goals, while also meeting the required steps to achieve long-term progressions. Social networking channels and video conferencing played a big part in maintaining a semblance of normalcy.

We also got creative by incorporating technology into the players' routines to track performance and training loads. We provided them with a variety of technology, like heart rate monitors, GPS tracking units, Apple Watch® wrist wearable devices, and Oura® smart rings, which measure and monitor specific physical performance data such as resting heart rate, target heart rate zones during training, distance, high-speed running and sprinting, sleep duration and quality, and fatigue levels. By involving the athletes more in the data collection process, they became more accountable and aware of the importance of the data we were collecting and its impact on performance. We also made ourselves available to them to explain and interpret this data to continuously evolve their goals.

Staying connected with your fitness and nutrition muses isn’t just for professional athletes. These technologies are available for consumers and are a great resource to stay connected when in-person meetings are impossible. Additionally, using fitness tech together with the advice of a health coach or personal trainer can be beneficial because professionals have the interpersonal skills that help reframe any confusion or feelings of doubt into positive actions.

Maintain Trust and a Sense of Community for a Healthy Lifestyle

The sports industry’s success relies heavily on camaraderie, in-person support, and fanfare. Our athletes at the LA Galaxy are used to being surrounded by their teammates and coaches 11 months out of the year. Research has shown that camaraderie supports better psychosocial health, and benefits competence, character, confidence, and other critical components of positive growth. To help them feel they had the same one-on-one focus and support, during the pandemic we had to individualize their fitness sessions and create effective nutrition plans that the athletes could follow at home.

Perhaps most important in ensuring the athlete’s success were virtual check-ins which fostered personal interactions. We used the time to educate them on nutrition, and funny enough, they weren’t distracted by other activities, as they may have been under normal circumstances. These one-on-one, virtual check-ins allowed us to maintain human connection. Finding new ways to help athletes learn how to cook or engage them in cooking competitions helped maintain a competitive spirit while also building a sense of community.

Making significant, long-term lifestyle changes includes proper nutrition, physical activity, a personalized plan, and support. It's about more than a single one-size-fits-all solution. Surrounding yourself with people who share your values, whether in person or virtually, will hold you more accountable to show up, learn new things, and work harder. It also has a more calming effect than doing the work alone. A consistent exercise regimen, a supportive community, and balanced nutrition are vital components of a holistic approach to a healthy and happy life.

Prioritize Physical and Mental Recovery 

Another important learning was that recovery is not just resting or stretching after a game or training, but also facilitating mental recovery. Over the past years, with stress from many sources, be it from isolation, performance anxiety, or social media stressors, it was important to develop strategies to manage it all.  As their coaches, it’s not only our job to help them achieve their performance goals but to also protect their overall mental health.

Since being back in person at the training facility, we have maintained a focus on promoting positive mental health and reducing their cognitive loads. With life’s daily disruptions taking up more time and mental capacity, we try to take the “thinking” out as much as possible so they can focus on their game. We do everything we can to help them de-stress by placing a huge emphasis on maximizing recovery days. When possible, we try and vary the recovery routine for the players and some activities include beach volleyball, pool sessions, ocean swims, bike rides, and upper body gym sessions. Another addition to the program was allowing the players to sleep in and do recovery yoga sessions via Zoom from home after packed travel schedules After the class we would remind the players to focus on hydration and quality nutrition while away from the club.

Recovery after exercise is an important part of any workout routine, no matter your level of athletic performance. Post-exercise recovery is critical for muscle strengthening and repair. A good recovery routine will not only help you avoid future injuries but will also have a significant impact on your fitness goals, allowing you to get back on track and train more efficiently. A combination of nutrients is essential for accelerating muscle recovery. Hydrating before, during, and after a workout, whether with water, tea, or shakes, will help replenish nutrients lost during your workout.

Whether you are a professional athlete or a weekend warrior, you can train your body and mind to perform at their optimal levels through these lessons learned. 

Slay every look with Spotlight 8-in-1 Scene Stealer eyeshadow palette

 

Spotlight 8-in-1 Scene Stealer Eye Palette

When it comes to makeup, nothing tugs at the heartstrings of beauty enthusiasts like the best eye shadow palettes. Whether you want to keep it subtle or want to experiment with a dramatic look, eyeshadows are guaranteed to let your eyes do all the talking! To help create your stylish, day-to-night look, and full-on glam,  Spotlight Cosmetics’ 8-in-1 Scene Stealer Eye Palette is all you need to achieve the  look you want. 

This eyeshadow palette comes in 6 mattes and 2 shimmer shades that can be used to create timeless makeup styles or fierce  looks for any occasion. It’s also perfect for all skin tones! 

Starting off with its blockbuster nude matte shades, you can be an instant head-turner with its selection of light brown finish, rusty orange, dark brown, pinky beige, and dark purplish-black shades. 

Dreaming of a sophisticated and alluring glam? The 2 shimmer shades of this eyeshadow can let you do just that! Top up your makeup look with the champagne or copper brown shimmer finish and have eyes that hypnotize! 

This eyeshadow set has smooth and easy-to-blend pigments and a multipurpose palette that is perfect to use as brow powder, eyeliner, and to contour, blush, and highlight your sleek eyebrows for that extra elegant and stunning glam!

Elevate your natural beauty and steal the scene whenever, and wherever with the Spotlight 8-in-1 Scene Stealer Eyeshadow! This product is exclusively available at Watsons, Watsons Online, ShopSM, and The SM Store Beauty Section. 

Spotlight products are also available on Spotlight’s official Lazada  (lazada.com.ph/shop/spotlight-cosmetics/) and Shopee pages (shopee.ph/spotlightofficialstore).  For more updates, visit and like Spotlight Cosmetics on Facebook (@SpotlightCosmeticsPH) and Instagram (@spotlightcosmetics.ph).

Rex Education Holds First BPE Congress Promoting The Whole School Approach Nationwide

 

Challenges to welfare and academic performance continue to impact the development of Filipino learners nationwide.

According to the results of the Program for International Student Assessment or PISA 2018 Report, 65% of the 15-year-old Filipino students who were surveyed reported being bullied at least a few times a month. Some 26% expressed they feel lonely at school, while 29% skipped a day of school. 

On top of the challenges in student welfare, the academic performance of Filipino students is just as alarming. In the same study, 81% of the students scored below minimum proficiency levels in reading, mathematics, and science compared to most countries that participated.

Rex Education, a champion of education and the lifelong learning partner of every Filipino learner, believes that every learner’s overall wellbeing impacts their academic performance. Schools and other education duty-bearers are expected to continue investing in the learners’ holistic development.

“What we should focus on is the learners’ long-term success and not just immediate academic performance. It is no longer enough that our children are in school; they should also be healthy and safe. It is no longer enough that they are taught; they should be engaged, supported, and challenged. It is no longer enough that they become responsible adults; they should be values-oriented. It is no longer enough that we go about our traditional fair share of work; we need to consciously champion education,” said Don Timothy Buhain, chief executive officer of Rex Education.

Bawat Paaralan, Edukampyon

In response to the challenges in Philippine education, Rex Education launched the ‘Bawat Paaralan, Edukampyon’ (BPE) continuum in 2021. Born under REX’s Edukampyon advocacy that rallies all Filipinos to champion education, the BPE continuum is a whole school approach that hopes to become a new standard of best practices in learning institutions across the country, so that every school maximizes its capacities to ensure that all learners are healthy, safe, engaged, supported, challenged, and values-oriented—that they become ‘Filipino Whole Learners’.

The whole school approach has been defined by the UNESCO International Bureau of Education as “addressing the needs of learners, staff and the wider community, not only within the curriculum but across the whole-school and learning environment. It implies collective and collaborative action in and by a school community to improve student learning, behavior and wellbeing, and the conditions that support these.”

Dr. Alison Atwell, an international consultant on Whole School Improvement, explained how the BPE lines up with the global understanding of the whole school approach: “In line with the breadth of international research and international good practice, the components that are essential to a whole school approach are very strongly correlated to the elements of the Bawat Paaralan, Edukampyon continuum. This framework aptly provides us the groundwork as we move forward.”

The BPE program covers the six facets of development—healthy, safe, engaged, supported, challenged, and values-oriented—and how the seven domains of learning support and influence (Professional Development; School Culture and Climate; Leadership and Responsibility; School, Family, and Community; Teaching and Learning; Learning Environment; and Curriculum and Assessment) contribute to learners becoming whole. 

Since its conception in 2015 and its launch in 2021, the BPE continuum has been successfully integrated into private schools nationwide. Several schools have been identified to work with Rex Education, guided by the BPE Implementation Kit developed in consultation with experts from the academe and DepEd. The schools are Cabulay Elementary School, Divisoria High School, Sagana National High School, and San Andres Elementary School in Isabela; Rosario National High School and St. Edward Integrated School in Cavite. Canossa Academy in Laguna; Cherished Moments School in Pangasinan; Colegio de Santa Rita de San Carlos, Inc. in Negros Occidental; Ednas School in Alaminos and Dagupan; and the Maranatha Christian Academy of Manila.  

Celebrating evidence-based and best practices in a 2-day BPE Congress

To inspire more schools to follow suit and implement the BPE continuum, Rex Education conducted a 2-day online BPE Congress attended by educators and education stakeholders across the country. 

Held on May 13 and 20, 2022, the congress celebrated the journey of creating and implementing the BPE program and featured experts to help attendees understand how this framework can also provide ways to build and observe evidence-based practices and processes within educational institutions.

Dr. Jerome Buenviaje, dean of the College of Education at the University of the Philippines and one of the REX’s partners in developing the BPE continuum, talked about the journey of BPE in institutionalizing evidence-based practices in schools. Ms. Rita Atienza, director of the Ateneo Teacher Center, gave a recap on Edukampyon as an advocacy and how it is implemented in the BPE continuum. Dr. Alison Atwell, an international consultant on Whole School Improvement, delved into understanding the potential of the whole school approach.

On the second day of the BPE Congress, the pioneering schools also shared how they were able to implement the BPE continuum through a strategic phase-by-phase system—and how doing so helped them elevate the developmental goals they had in place for their students.

“As a school, we strive to be relevant amidst the changing educational landscape and be responsive to the community we serve. We believe that using the BPE continuum has enabled our school to maintain quality education and initiative reforms when necessary. The BPE continuum also paved the way for us to organize our actions towards the holistic development of our learners from the bottom up,” said Sr. Luzviminda Mojica, FdCC, school directress of Canossa Academy.

Wrapping up the BPE Congress, Rex Education Chief Marketing Officer Jeanne Marie Tordesillas assured all educators that the BPE Implementation Kit is available for free for all institutions and that Rex Academy is ready to provide support and guidance for its execution. 

“The whole school approach works. The BPE as a whole school approach is implementable. There are decades of research and experience backing that. We have the BPE pioneers to attest to that.  The key is to listen to all the heartbeats in the school and to act until you can hear all the hearts beat as one. REX remains committed to being an Edukampyon and supporting fellow Edukampyons,” said Tordesillas.

Rewatch Day 1 and Day 2 of the BPE Congress from the Rex Education Facebook page.

To know more about the Edukampyon advocacy and the BPE continuum, and to become a part of this nationwide initiative for better education, visit rex.com.ph/edukampyon or email Rex Education at community@rex.com.ph.

Designing a Workplace Culture with Pride

How Canva Philippines champions diversity and inclusion in the workplace

Express yourself with Canva’s new collection of playful, illustrative Pride templates.

Creating an inclusive work environment is more than just lip service. It requires listening, understanding, and constantly evolving a company’s processes to ensure that every employee feels included and understood.

Canva Philippines, with its over 700-strong workforce, celebrates diversity beyond the much-celebrated Pride Month of June. Every day, Canvanauts are encouraged to celebrate and embrace their identity at work and beyond. 

Advocating for equal rights through education

Yuni Lao, a senior brand designer at Canva Philippines, marries her passion for creativity, education, and equality through the different hats she wears. Aside from her work at Canva where she helps conceptualize and bring ideas to life through various design applications, Yuni also advocates for human rights and equality for different gender expressions and identities. She is also a design lecturer at Ateneo de Manila University and a content streamer.

Yuni Lao, Senior Brand Designer at Canva Philippines, champions gender equality through her design craft and passion for teaching.

As a bisexual woman, Yuni realized there’s more she can do to educate others. She lets her advocacy bleed into her work and in her class, “I try to impart to my students that the space I make for them is something they can have even outside the classroom,” Yuni shared. Aside from talking about her sexuality openly to make her class feel more comfortable, she also encourages them to propose topics that they care about through class projects.

Geryl Minguillo, a learning designer in Canva University, also brings his advocacy to work. Canva University is the company’s learning and development unit. “Gender rights, specifically LGBTQIA+, rights, is something I feel extremely passionate about. Growing up as a closeted gay kid, I’ve experienced being teased and bullied about my self-expression,” Geryl said. 

It wasn’t until college when he fully embraced who he is and got exposed to the different realities of LGBTQ+ individuals. He continues to join, advocate, and celebrate at Pride where he meets more people from the community and learns about their experiences. Now, through his work in Canva Philippines, he helps champion this advocacy through Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) sessions for newbies and educating fellow Canvanauts from using respectful and nondiscriminatory language and understanding someone’s preferred pronouns to practices that cultivate behaviors of inclusion. 

“In my first week at Canva, one of the first things I shared with everyone, in my newbie intro, was that I’m a gay-mer. 2 facts in 1. And I’ve never felt more welcomed in my life! The level of safety and openness I experienced was inspiring,” he added. 

Geryl Minguillo advocates for diversity through his role as a learning designer in Canva Philippines

Championing diversity from people to product

Canva Philippines Country Manager Yani Hornilla-Donato highlights the importance of fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace to enable employees to do the best work of their lives. “We encourage Canvanauts to bring their whole selves to work and be proud to share them with others. Whether they’re advocating for an organization or want to educate others about gender equality, we aim to provide them with an environment where they feel welcomed and appreciated.”

From hiring to doing the actual work, every Canvanaut gets the support they need through DEI learning sessions, various interest clubs, accessibility features at the office, and even Slack channels dedicated to sharing resources. ​​Hiring is also made inclusive through conducting accessibility and awareness training for the talent acquisition team, organizing a diverse interview panel, and investing in Textio, a tool that assesses the use of inclusive languages for job ads. 

Canva also allows Filipinos to design with pride with its new collection of playful and illustrative Pride templates following a Filipino retro style. From Instagram stories to podcast covers, these templates can be used by anyone who wants to design with pride. 

To know more about Canva, visit www.canva.com or follow Canva on Facebook, Instagram, and Tiktok. Canva is also available for download on App Store and Play Store.

What unfiltered motherhood is really like

 

Being a mom is the most fulfilling, yet most difficult job in the world. There are some who make it look like a breeze and others who show the actual journey and reality that this full-time job entails. On top of the daily to-do list of work tasks, taking care of the kids, and having time for yourself, are the household chores such as actual laundry, dishes, and cooking that take hours and a significant amount of effort and physical labor. 

As motherhood has endured the toughest struggle in the past two years, it’s not always as glamorous as social media makes it out to be. Recently, more and more moms have been revealing an unfiltered look into motherhood, as a way to help other moms find solutions to make life easier and better for themselves and their kids. 

For mom Apple, motherhood may not be as manageable in terms of following a certain schedule but amidst all the chores, she has found a solution to cross off one big item from her checklist: “Managing the household is tough! The chores are never-ending. Looking after my son during and after school is also a challenge. And of course, doing the laundry with tough stains means extra work for me. Thanks to Breeze Power Machine, laundry time is much easier now.” 

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CeD3x5MB1l3/

Mommy and Doctor Crystal Roxas shares that she has found the ultimate secret of power moms by making sure she’s there for her son every time even while working hard “To be able to provide for my little Nate, I have to work extra hard while making sure that I’m by his side when he needs me most. ❤️ I always want to give him the best.” she says. 

 

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Momshie Patricia Parian shares her secret to making laundry a breeze: “Bilang working mom, isa sa mga challenges ko ang paglalaba dahil kailangan dito ng matinding effort. Pero napadali na ito gamit ang #BreezePowerMachine. Tanggal agad ang dumi in one wash”

https://www.tiktok.com/@momshiesdiary/video/7102380379893419290

Mommy Tine understands the demands of being a mom and has found one big solution to cross off her list: “Managing the household is a juggling act. Kaya naman I need to find ways to balance everything… kids, meals, cleaning, lalo na sa laundry. So I can spend more time with the kids. Buti na lang I found #BreezePowerMachine liquid detergent! Now I can spend less time on chores and more time with my kids.”

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CeEPnSdBmIA/

 

Mom Charlene Tolentino shares her advice on how she can take time for herself: “As a millennial stay-at-home mom, always busy with the chores and taking care of my kids. I hardly find time to do other stuff. So, I'm always on the lookout for products to make my life easier. The #BreezePowerMachine Liquid Detergent lets me power through laundry and gives me more quality time with my children and time for myself.”

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Although motherhood may not be a walk in the park, there are communities and brands like Breeze that can offer you easy and powerful solutions to lighten your load, and make your tasks less of a chore and more of a superpower. 

Breeze Power Machine Liquid Detergent makes laundry so much easier as it penetrates fabrics and removes tough stains better than powder detergents. Thanks to its ultraclean concentrate and the Golden Trio of power washing - that is surfactants, dirt-lifters, and enzymes - you just need to dab-pour-wash and let your washing machine do the work. Now all hard-working moms can make the switch from powder to liquid detergent to turn laundry into a Breeze!

You are just in time for the Big Breeze Sale on Lazada this June 22-26 where you can get up to 30% OFF on Breeze products. More than that, you can also get a chance to win a washing machine with a minimum purchase of Php 599. Discounts and offers don’t end there! Throughout this five-day sale, you can also get up to 50% OFF on other Unilever Household Care products as well until stocks last.

Shop now on Lazada and catch the Big Breeze Sale: https://tinyurl.com/Big-Breeze-Sale.

Pldt, Smart, And Canva Philippines Champion Mental Health And Wellness Through Art

 

Through The Time Capsule Project, PLDT and Smart continue their commitment to championing mental health and wellness through art, an initiative made possible through a partnership with Canva Philippines, Mind Games, and Silakbo.

As part of a month-long celebration of Mental Health Awareness Month this May, PLDT and Smart empower the youth across the country to champion mental health and wellness through art with its campaign, "The Time Capsule Project”. With support from Canva Philippines, youth participants are encouraged to use art as a form of mental healthcare.

The Time Capsule Project invited the youth to share their stories, by using art in the forms of music, spoken word, photography, and visual arts. The top five participants recently won PHP 10,000 worth of connectivity packages from PLDT and Smart and a three-month premium subscription from Canva Philippines. They also had an opportunity to donate to their chosen mental health advocacy groups.

“As we hold the second run of The Time Capsule Project, we are very happy and privileged to get support from Canva Philippines as we champion our shared advocacy on mental health and wellness. We are looking forward to the many stories that our participants will share. It is our hope that together we can enable a generation of storytellers and purveyors of truth in the digital space,” said Katherine P. Diaz De Rivera, PLDT and Smart Stakeholder Management Digital Wellness Executive.

“Expressing yourself through design can be powerful and we believe in its power to raise awareness on mental health and wellness. With this initiative, we hope that the participants will find Canva a useful tool in expressing themselves through our mental health-related templates, a vast range of elements, audio clips, and even stock photography. Collaborating with PLDT and Smart in this meaningful initiative enables us to be a force of good in the lives of our youth participants as they design better days ahead for themselves and those around them,” said Canva Philippines Country Manager Yani Hornilla-Donato.

The Time Capsule Project kicked off with a special masterclass on content and visual creation led by Junior Designer Dre Agar, who is also part of Canva Philippines’ Video Squad. Through the app, anyone can design and use Canva’s features whenever they want, wherever they may be. Users can play with filters, pair fonts, add photos and fun elements, mix and match colors, and use Canva’s vast range of templates for all their design needs. The app is available for download on App Store and Play Store. 

 

About Better Today

Better Today is a key part of PLDT and Smart’s continuing commitment to help the Philippines contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG), particularly UNSDG #3 which stands for good health and well-being.

About Canva

Launched in 2013, Canva is a free online visual communications and collaboration platform with a mission to empower everyone in the world to design. Featuring a simple drag-and-drop user interface and a vast range of templates ranging from presentations, social media graphics, posters, and apparel to videos, plus a huge library of fonts, stock photography, illustrations, video footage, and audio clips, anyone can take an idea and create something beautiful. Canva is available on desktop, web, iOS, and Android.

18 Million Filipinos are Suffering from the "Silent Epidemic"

 

Did you know that at least 18 million Filipinos are either suffering from or at the risk of a disease considered a silent epidemic?

As a mom, hearing this data from an expert during the online press conference organized by the Hepatology Society of the Philipines (HSP), entitled "Fatty Liver Facts: What You Need to Know About This Silent Epidemic", I was alarmed and I was worried for myself, my family, my friends, especially my kids.

Silent epidemic

Fatty Liver disease is also called the " silent epidemic" which affects 115 million people around the world. It has no symptoms at the early stages, which is why many people are unaware that they have it until it's too late.

How it is initially detected?

- often accidentally diagnosed

- fatty liver on ultrasound

- abnormal ALT or SGPT on routine tests

- may have normal blood tests

According to Dr.Allan Policarpio, President of the Philippine Society of Gastroenterology, fatty liver disease is a little-known, potentially fatal condition affecting many people. He also added that the public can learn about it by listening to experts.

There are two types of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) — non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) and its more progressive type, the non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The main characteristic of both is too much fat stored in liver cells. Having small amounts of fat in the liver is normal, but it becomes a problem if more than 5% to 10% percent of the liver’s weight is fat.

As the prevalence of NASH continues to rise, it is important to understand the signs and symptoms to look out for:

➡️ jaundice

➡️ flu-like symptoms, fever

➡️ nausea and vomiting/diarrhea

➡️ joint pains, muscle aches

➡️ upper right stomach pain

➡️ lack of appetite

➡️ tiredness

➡️ light-colored stools/ dark urine

"The Philippines has over 18 million obese and overweight people. They are all susceptible to NAFLD, noted Dr. Diana Alcantara-Payawal, President of the Philippine College of Physicians. “Some of them may already have fatty liver disease but are unaware of it,” she added. 

Dr. Edhel S. Tripon of HSP stated that fatty liver is the fastest rising cause of liver cancer and cirrhosis worldwide. "People who are overweight, diabetic, or hypertensive are prone to developing fatty liver.”

Our liver is the largest internal organ. It cleanses our blood, regulates cholesterol, regulates the balance of hormones, makes important body proteins, regulates essential vitamins and minerals, produces bile: for toxin elimination, and helps digestion.

Dr. Tripon also stressed the importance of keeping the liver healthy. “The liver is a multitasking hard worker, so it is important to keep this organ as healthy as possible. A healthy liver is fundamental to wellness.”

To lower the risk of developing fatty liver disease, HSP Vice President Dr. Wendell Z. Espinosa said “we need to raise awareness about how to avoid modifiable risk factors among adolescents and young adults. We need to increase the public's awareness about nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, which would likely lead to better prevention, early detection, and treatment of the disorder.”

What can we do to lower the risk of NAFLD?

✔ maintain a healthy weight and exercise most days of the week

✔ limit sugar; choose a plant-based diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats

✔ ask your physician about screening for NAFLD and NASH.

The Hepatology Society of the Philippines is the lead organization in the study and care of liver health and disease among Filipinos. HSP provides research, education, and advocacy on liver health and liver-related diseases. Part of its mission is to share information, services, and expertise with the global community towards the prevention and treatment of liver diseases.

Together, we can #StopNASHnow! Keep moving.

No liver, no life!

Meet Conti's Dad Bakers: Sweet Heroes both in the Kitchen and at Home

The dad bakers of homegrown food chain Conti's Bakeshop and Restaurant are a special kind of hero. They are tough and soft and sweet at the same time, both at work and home. They are not just a part of the team that whips up the brand’s beloved cakes and pastries by the thousands daily at the Conti’s commissary.

They are fathers who work hard to provide their families with a better life while helping other families all over the country mark their special occasions, and even ordinary moments, with delightful celebrations.

Some of them have faced tough times in life but were able to succeed because of their love for family, determination, and courage.  

Conti’s Bakeshop and Restaurant multi-layered torte supervisor Limwil Galdiano 

“Kailangan ko talaga ng trabaho para ma suportahan ko ang pamilya ko, kaya ‘di na ako nag-atubili pa,” recalls Limwil Galdiano of his humble beginnings in the bakeshop founded 25 years ago and owned by the Conti sisters of Batangas. “Sabi ko sa sarili, sige, kakayanin ko ‘to.”

Limwil has been with Conti’s for almost a decade now. Back in 2013, he was already a father to a 6-year-old son. He had also been a cook for 10 years. What he did not have any experience yet at the time was baking.

“Go for a change,” he says in retrospect. “Hindi lang po sapat ‘yung nag excel ka sa isang bagay. Kelangan din po nating lumabas sa comfort zone natin at mag explore at sumubok ng ibang skills.” 

Conti’s gave Limwil that perfect opportunity to widen his skills and broaden his horizon as a professional. Most importantly, it helped him make a better living for his family.

Taking on the challenge has paid off. Today, Limwil takes utmost satisfaction and pride in his work as a Conti’s baker because he knows that his talent and skills bring smiles to the faces of strangers.

“Kahit may pressure, kahit pagod, nakakagana pong magtrabaho pag nakikita mong nauubos lahat ng napoproduce namin at pinipilahan po ‘yung stores,” he beams. “Nakakaproud po.”

Conti’s Bakeshop and Restaurant baker Renato Sanorjo and officer-in-charge in production Edmond Alcoran

Like Limwil, fellow Conti’s dad baker Renato Sanorjo had been working in the kitchen of a fast-food chain before joining Conti’s. The big difference was he was very far from his family as the job was in Saudi Arabia. 

“Madami talagang pagsubok na pwedeng harapin at bilang tatay,” Renato says. “Mas mahirap ‘yung kapag hindi mo kapiling ang anak at pamilya mo.”

Although financial support is important, the former OFW emphasizes the importance of being physically present to create a deeper connection with your children.

“Bilang isang haligi ng tahanan, dapat matatag ka, masipag ka, matiyaga ka para masuportahan o maibigay mo ang pangangailangan ng pamilya mo. Hindi lang materyal kundi pati ‘yung sa pisikal at emosyonal para maging maayos at maganda ang kinabukasan nila.”

These very same sentiments are shared by Edmond Alcoran, a longtime Conti’s employee who started out as an assistant baker and now holds the position of Officer-in-Charge of Production. “Maraming challenges financially, emotionally, and physically,” he echoes. “So ang pinakamaganda ay kapag sa huli, nalagpasan niyo ang pagsubok sa buhay.”

One of the biggest challenges that Edmond had to surmount as a father came early this year when his third child was born prematurely. “Kakaibang pagsubok ang pinagdaanan ko,” he notes. “Pero dahil na rin sa karanasan ko sa pagiging ama ng unang dalawang anak ko, at ‘yung mga natutunan ko sa trabaho, nakaya namin ng asawa ko ang mga hamon.”

Edmond says patience and having a clear direction are very important both as a baker and as a father. “Hindi pwedeng magmadali ka. As a baker kasi, merong standard procedure. Kelangan may patience ka na sundin ‘yun. Kelangan i-manage natin lahat ‘yun para may direction. Ganun din sa pagiging tatay. Kelangan ang mahabang pasensya. Kelangan ang tibay ng loob.”

Meeting big challenges is never easy. Even tough men need all the help they can get. Fortunately for the dad bakers of Conti’s, the company’s family-oriented philosophy not only makes them grow, but it also makes them glow.

“Sa Conti’s, challenges are a means to constantly improve, to make ourselves better and make relationships tighter,” notes Angie Conti-Martinez, one of the three sisters who founded Conti’s 25 years ago. “We are happy to be part of the professional and personal journeys of our dad bakers and are proud of their achievements in the company and their families.

There is no perfect father, just as there is no one way to be a good father. Dads, just like cakes, come in all shapes, sizes, and parenting styles. But no matter what and who they are, dads are everyday superheroes who deserve to be celebrated on Father’s Day but every single day – with Conti’s cakes for a truly delightful celebration.

To know more about Conti’s Bakeshop & Restaurant, visit their website at http://www.contis.ph/ or check out their Facebook (@contisph) and Instagram (@contis_ph) pages. Other pages bearing our name and images are fake. They do not in any way represent the brand.